Sterling student wins Nell Propst Northeast Colorado History Contest

Pictured are the students who submitted essays for the Nell Propst Northeast Colorado Local History Contest. Back row, from left: Robert Chavez from Brush, Thomas Groves of Wray; Thomas Pomeroy of Merino, Derek Whittington of Fleming; Carl Rosa Jr. of Sterling (first place) and Matt Wilcox of Haxtun. Front row, from left: Zoe Sheets of Brush, Kate Weimer of Merino, Nicole Lousberg of Fleming, Alyssa Cordova of Holyoke and Meg Strauss of Holyoke. Not pictured are Baylor Buck of Way (second place), Tory Rein of Wiggins and Ashleigh Feather of Sterling. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

STERLING — Students who submitted entries for the fifth annual Nell Propst Northeast Colorado Local History Contest were recognized Monday at a special awards luncheon at Tennant Art Gallery on Monday.

Ken Horner, chairman of the History Contest committee, welcomed students and guests to the luncheon. Other committee members include Chuck Podraza, secretary; Dick Smith; and Roy Wheeler.

This year there were 14 essays submitted by students throughout the area. The first place winner was Carl Rosa Jr., from Sterling High School, who wrote about “Collegiate Dreams in the Northeastern Corner.” He received a $2,000 scholarship and his sponsoring teachers, Sara Wernsman and Nancy Kulgler, received a $1,000 grant that may be used to fund class field trips or purchase classroom equipment and/or supplies.

Ken Horner, chair of the Nell Propst Northeast Colorado Local History Contest, congratulates Carl Rosa Jr. and one of Rosa's sponsors, Nancy Kugler, Rosa's first place win in the essay contest. His other sponsor was Sara Wernsman. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

Baylor Buck, of Wray High School, was the second place winner for his essay on the “The Laird Roundhouse.” He received a $1,000 scholarship and sponsoring teacher, Rick Ward, received a $500 grant.

Other participants in the contest included: Robert Chavez from Brush; Thomas Pomeroy from Merino; Nicole Lousberg from Fleming; Matt Wilcox from Haxtun; Alyssa Cordova from Holyoke; Zoe Sheets from Brush; Kate Weimer from Merino; Ashleigh Feather from Sterling; Derek Whittington from Fleming; Meg Strauss from Holyoke; Thomas Groves from Wray; and Tory Rein from Wiggins.

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New this year was a cover contest. There were six entries submitted by area artists. The winning entry titled “Calving Season,” by Andrea Northup of SHS, is featured on the cover of a book featuring the students' essays. She received a $1,000 scholarship and her faculty sponsor, Karen Foote, received $500.

The five other students who submitted artwork were Maggie Christensen, Kelsey Guy, Jessica Gill, John Wagley and Abby Kurtzer.

Ken Horner (left), chair of the Nell Propst Northeast Colorado Local History Contest, and committee member Peter Youngers congratulate Andrea Northup of Sterling and her sponsor Karen Foote on Northup's first place win in the cover art contest. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

All scholarships are funded by Frank and Gloria Walsh and can be used at the college of the writer's choice.

“Congratulations, you should all be very proud of your accomplishment,” said Northeastern Junior College President Jay Lee. “What you did was a very difficult thing.”

Overland Trail Museum Curator Kay Rich, one of the essay contest judges, along with Janet Bigler and Arnold Baxter, applauded all the hard work the students did.

“Every year it seems to get harder and harder to choose the winners,” she said. “We spent literally hours going over them and over them.”

She went on to talk about what the judges look for in the essays – broad topics that hone in on an area; grammar; content; and the research involved.

Rich noted that she always learns something when she reads the essays.

Youngers said they were “pleased” with the number of entries into the cover contest, all though they hope to have more in future years.

He noted that choosing the winning artwork was difficult for the judges – Emily Vine, Larry Prestwich and Skip Taylor.

Youngers spoke about what the judges were looking for. They wanted to see things related to this area and the theme of the essays and they looked for the clarity of the piece and how the graphics went with the artwork.

Cindy Johnson, former executive director of the NJC Foundation, congratulated the students as well. She pointed out that people who can write have a tremendous advantage over others in the workforce.

The contest was open to students in Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties plus the Briggsdale, New Raymer, Pawnee and Grover school districts in northeastern Weld County.

Students were asked to write a thesis of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 words on the local history about an individual, groups of individuals or events affecting or occurring within the geographical area serviced by the participating school districts within northeastern Colorado.

Each school was allowed to submit two essays.

All of the essays have been included in a bound book titled “A Short History of Northeastern Colorado (As seen through the eyes of our high school scholars).” Each student got a copy of the book and it is available for purchase at Overland Trail Museum, as well as the Julesburg, Wray, Fort Morgan and Greeley museums, and also on Amazon.com. Cost is $12.95.

The artwork will also be on display at the museums and possibly at the schools.

After the luncheon students got to tour Overland Trail Museum and see the new exhibit of the rebuilt Lawrie Tannery. The students also had an opportunity to tour NJC.

Sponsors of the contest include Frank and Gloria Walsh, NJC, Overland Trail Museum, Logan County Historical Company and Sterling Monument Company.

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